Electrolytic device



8- 19353 H. w. BOESSENKOOL 2,011,890

ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1933 I rwenfirr: 3 .HT ZdBoea-aeadkool,

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 I UNITED STATES 2,011,890 ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Helmich Wolter Boessenkool, Paris,'France, ac-

signor to N. V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken, Eindhoven, Netherlands Application February 23, 1933, Serial No. 658,206 .In' the Netherlands March 5, 1932,

6 Claims. (01. 175-315) My invention relates to electrolytic devices and more particularly to a novel valve construction for the same.

My invention will be described with reference to electrolytic condensers, to which it is particularly well adapted, although it is to be understood that it can be applied to other electrolytic cells, for instance to electrolytic rectifiers, batteries, etc.

As is well known, to prevent contamination and evaporation of the electrolyte, the containers of electrolytic condensers areas a rule fully closed, and are also both liquidand air-tight. How-. ever, to permit the escape of the gases which are liberated at the electrodes during the operation of the condenser, venting means must be provided.

The present invention'relates to a novel vent valve-construction, which is' very simple and cheap ,to manufacture, and at the same time is very reliable in' operation.

According to the invention I provide a valve in the ,form of a rubber flap having one or more integral projections and which is securedto the container by pulling such projection (or projections) through a corresponding aperture (or apertures) of the container.

In its preferred form the flap is mushroomshaped, the stem forming the projection to be pulled through an aperture of the container, and the cap of the mushroom closing from the exterior, the venthole provided in the container.

- 'Whenever the gases developed during the operation of the condenser have accumulated sufllcient pressure to lift the valve, the gases escape, after which the valve is reseated.

Preferably the vent-valve is mounted at one end of the container, for instance in a re-entrant endcover thereof.

In order that myinvention may be clearly un-.

derstood and readily carried into eflfect, two embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a condenser able electrolyte 2, for instance, an aqueous solution of borax and boric -acid, constituting the i other electrode.

may be of film-forming or non-fllmrforming metal, constitutes the supply conductor for the electrolyte 2, and at its upper end is provided with a flange 2i, around which is crimped in air-tight manner the flange 22 of a re-entrant cover lid 4. The lid 4 is provided with a vent-hole 5 for the escape of'the gases. closed by the-cap 6 of a mushroom-shaped rubber flap valve, the slightly tapered stem 1 of which is forced through a hole 23 of the lid 4.

It should be understood that the stem 1 is slightly deformed when pulled through aperture 23. The stem I is originally made of such length that it can be easily gripped to position the valve, after which if desired, part of the stem may be cut ofi. The pressure of the cap 6 on the aperture 5 can also be r'egulatedby pulling the stem through the cover to a greater or lesser extent. In this manner a very simple and efiicient valve arrangement is obtained which permits the passage of the gas through the vent-hole without the simultaneous passage of the liquid electrolyte. At the same time the valve construction is well adapted for mass production.

At its lower end, the container ,3 is closed by a The vent-hole 5 is normally bottom piece, which is of suitable insulating material, for instance, hard rubber, artificial resin or the like. The upper portion 8 of the bottom piece forms a disc snugly fitting in the container, while its lower portion forms a neck of reduced diameter. A rubber disc Ill placed on top of the bottom piece acts as a gasket and slightly overlaps the latter, its overlapping portion 28 being bent around the upper portion 8 and engaging an annular groove It provided therein.

The disc 8 with its washer ll! is tightly clamped between an annular recess l3 of the container 3 and the crimped-over end portion l5 thereof. A conducting rod 9 passes through the disc 8 and its neck' 20 and is electrically connected with the electrode i st ll. At its other end the rod 9 carrie's 'a' nut l2 for the outside connection of the electrode I. The washer III is clamped between a disk II and the bottom piece I.

The neck 201s threaded to carry a nut I, by means of which the condenser may be attached to a suitable base.

- Various modifications of my invention may,

suggest themselves. For instance, instead of providing the flap valve with a single projection, a plurality of projections can be provided. In this case the flap may consist for instance of a strip of rubber, shown in Fig. 2 in cross section and in Fig. 3 in top view, the ends as and 20 of which are pulled slits 21 provided on vent-hole-23 forms a protruding valve seat on the container.

What I claim is:

1. An electrolytic cell comprising a container having a vent hole therein, an electrolyte in said container, and a valve provided on said container and normally closing said vent hole from the exterior, for the escape of gases which may develop in the electrolyte during the operation of the cell, said valve consisting of a flap having an integral projection and an aperture on said container, said projection tightly extending through said aperture to secure the valve to the container, and the flap of said valve normally closing said vent hole from the exterior.

2. An electrolytic device comprising a contamer, a venthole in said container, and an aperture in the proximity of said hole, a mushroomshaped valve comprising a flexible flap which is adapted to close said venthole, and a stem integral with said flap and forcibly pulled through said aperture and fixedly securing said valve to the container. I

3. An electrolytic cell having a container and two slit-shaped apertures in said container, a

rubber strip, the two end portions oiwhich are pulled through said two slits, said container having a venthole between said slits, said rubber strip normally closing said venthole and being adapted to be lifted from said hole by the pressure of accumulated gases which are liberated during 5 the operation of the cell.

4. In an electrolytic device a container, a venthole and an aperture, a rubber member adapted to close said venthole, and having an integral portion projecting through said aperture, said projection securing said member to said container.

5. An electrolytic cell having a container and an end member, said end member having a venthole provided therein, and a valve cooperating with said hole, said valve comprising a rubber flap closing said venthole, said flap having an integral projection, said end member having an aperture therein through which the projection like rubber flap adapted to normally close said venthole and an integral stem projecting substantially centrally therefrom, said stem being adapted to be pulled through said aperture.

HELMICH WOLTER BOESSENKOOL. 

